Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-08
Microscopical Wonders.
Suppose we look at a fly's tongl

Suppose we look at fy's tongue?"
'sAll right" said l. Files have been
investigating me for long time, and
nothing would give me more pleasure
than to see fy's tongue transfxed,
and to investigate it calmly under a
microscope"
Accordingly, Mr.. Hopkins placed the
subject in position, and, turning the
table, | brought my eye to bear upon
the object. The fy's tongue is GER
tainly complicated piece of mechan-
ism. No description would do it
justice; it must be seen to be appre-
ciated
The next subject was a section of
horsefy, showing the complete kit OF
tools with which he pursues his investi-
cations into the flesh of horses. There
was fine saw, with teeth plainly
visible, a piercer for irritating the
wound, which caused the blood to flow,
and all arranged for use. Then we
looked at the saw-fy, which frequents
rose and gooseberry bushes, and saws
places in the twigs and deposits its
eggs. The singing apparatus of the
ordinary honey bee next claimed our
attention. Having had some expert.
ence with the bees business department
| congratulated myself that the mystery
of its operation was about to be un-
vailed. The sight confirmed me in my
purpose previously formed for giving
bee-hives a wide birth in the future.
A bees singer looks formidable under
the microscope. Teeth project from
the side like sword-fsh, and attached
to it is the poison bag which contains
the article which, when inserted into
mans hand by an enterprising bee,
makes him wish that he had never
been born.
you will see," said Mr.. Hopkins,
chat by increasing the power of the
microscope the formation of parts of
the various objects examined is clearly
shown, and the more closely they are
examined the more complete they
appear. There are no botched jobs in
nature"
''Do your Investigations" I asked,
''lead to the conclusion that all
these complete and beautiful things
were evolved from an incomplete
germ?"
"Mr Hopkins replied very emphati-
cally, ''No, sir; they do not | take no
stock in the modern conclusion on that
point"
The hornet was next investigated. It
has been said that he differs from the
flea in this respect, that when YOU put
your finger on him you know he is there
Much as we dislike to meet the hornet
and be interviewed by him, especially
when seated on the grass eating loaf
cake at picnic, he appears re-
markably well under a microscope.
Mr.. Hopkins called my attention to
this interesting fact On the edge of
the hornets wings are series of
hooks, which, at certain times, are used
to hook the wings together, but no one
has yet succeeded in hooking or I'M
hooking the wings of the captured in
sect. The hooks were plainly seen
through the instrument. A bees foot
and Il fringed paddle of the water
beetle closed our Investigations among
the insect tribe. A section of the leaf
OF the butcher plant was next shown.
1t was covered with little stars perfect
~ formed. These stars are composed
of slick, and if the leaf is burned the
stars are not consumed.
Diatoms are a subject for special
study. They are vegetable plants
comprising innumerable varieties,
which can only be seen and classified
by the aid of the microscope Diatoms
have been seen upon which 125, 1000
traverse lines have been shown by the
aid of the most powerful microscopes.
Polarized light is another department
of microscopical study. The polarizer
is attached to the microscope, and by
its means the most beautiful forms and
colors are seen. There are an infinite
number of available subjects in this
realm. Chemical crystals, mineral
sections, nickel prisms and objects
from vegetable life all show a vast
variety of colors and forms